'I hold my breath a lot': Watching your son get bucked off a horse at the Stampede

As the rodeo gets underway for the Calgary stampede, a mother from North Rustico, P.E.I., is watching with bated breath.

"I hold my breath a lot, but it's only for hopefully eight seconds that's what they have to stay on for," said Melanie McManaman, whose 20-year-old son Logan Young is competing in the Novice Saddle Bronc for the second year in a row.

Watch Logan Young compete in the Calgary Stampede (Submitted by Melanie McManaman)

8 years ago

Duration 0:16

Watch Logan Young compete in the Calgary Stampede (Submitted by Melanie McManaman)

"Everything he does, he does with all he has, so it doesn't surprise me that he's going into full force on this."

'He's always been a country boy'

McManaman said Young's interest in the rodeo started when he was in grade 12 and moved to Caroline, Alta., to live with his father, and she wasn't surprised to see him take to it.

"He always worked on the farm here," she said. "Anybody who knows him will tell you he's always been a country boy. He started walking and talking on tractors and in hay fields and working with cattle."

McManaman said Young is currently sitting in third place but with more riders to go, that could change before the event is over.

"He's doing pretty good. The dismount was pretty rough he kind of landed on his shoulder, but he's doing pretty good. Of course, he thought he could have rode better always but he's doing really good," she said.

The top six riders will compete in the finals.

"We're keeping our fingers crossed."

• MORE P.E.I. NEWS | 4 Island students chosen to attend prestigious summer program
• MORE P.E.I. NEWS | Kowboy Mike Hughes forced to change Facebook name